Folding top



M. BUCH.

FOLDING TOP.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, I919.

Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

M. BUCH.

FOLDING TOP.

'w-AgE LcATmN FILED MAR. 24. 1919.

1,336,022. Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Alforney M. BUCH.

FOLD lNG TOP.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24. 1919.

1,336,022, Patent-ed Apr. 6,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTION 7/[01 jive/J UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAX BUGI-I, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, AS SIGNOR T0 HENRY E. EDWARDS, OF JACKSON,

MICHIGAN.

FOLDING Tor.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

Applicationfilizd'March 24, 1919. Serial No. 284,734.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAX BUoH, a citizen of Germany, and resident of Detroit,.Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tops, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in folding tops for motor vehicles, mot'o'r bbats and the like.

,One object of the invention is to provide a top frame which will be wholly supported by a single standard on each side in addition to the 'usual wind-shield connection, and in whichall bows and links will be wholly connected from exterior view by the top covermg.

Another object is to provide a top which may be projected from its folded position by the mere act of raising orushing upward upon the main bow, whic by reason of its extending rearwardly from its pivot, is easily manipulated from the rear of the machine, thus avoiding any twisting strains on the top parts, such as occur with tops invention includes the novel features of con-' struction'and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, my said invention being defined by the appended claims.

My preferred embodiment of said invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the top in extended position upon a motor vehicle body, only a portion of which latter is shown in outline for convenience of illustration.

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the extension parts folded back against the main bow.

Figs. 3, 3, 4t, 5 and 6 are views of modifications.

The top being shown in elevation the bow arms, links and levers on one side only appear in the drawing, but it will be understood that they are duplicated on the opposite side, and where, in the subjoined description the singular is used as applying to one side it will be understood to apply to the opposite side also.

Referring by reference characters to this drawing the numeral 1 designates a vehicle body, 1 the top covering material, and 2 the which is pivotally supported by a body iron or pin 3 secured in a suitable manner to the vehicle body.

The bow standardor arm 2 inclines rearwardly so as to lie in approximately the same .position as the rear bow of the conventional type of top and it supports at its upper end the corresponding end of the bow 2*, though obviously the bow may be made integral with the standard orv arm where an all metal top is desired.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a pair of links or members 3 and 4 have their rear portions pivotally connected to the bow arm 2, one above the other, as indicated at 3 and 4 The forward extremity of one of these links isconnected by a hinge joint 3 of preferably the elbow or look type to the rear end of a bow arm 5 carrying a how 5*, (integral or otherwise) which for convenience I term an extension bow arm. The forward extremity of the other link (4) is connected by a pivot indicated at 4 to the bow arm 5 a suitable distance in advance of the pivot 55*. One of the links (3) has .piv-' otally connected therev-rith at 6 the lower or rear end of a bow arm 6 (for convenience of designation called the intermediate bow arm) carrying a bow 6 and to this how arm ,is pivotally connected at 7 a the rear end of a member 7, which, iintheprojected position of the top, extends diagonally across the box; arm 5 to which it is pivotally connected at To the forward end of this member is pivotally connected at 8* the rear end of another extension bow arm which corresponds to the usual outrigger bow arm 8, and will be so designated hereinafter. A link or brace 9 has one end pivotally connected with the outrigger bow arm 8 at 9 and the other end pivotally connected with the bow arm 5 at 9.

One of the links or members 3 or 4 is extended to form a top projecting lever, in the preferred embodiment shown in the drawing the lower member 3 being shown as having such extension, indicated at 3", and the end of the extension is connected by a flexible element 10, such as a strap or webbing, with the back of the body in any suitable manner, the end of the extension being preferably bent or turned at right angles to enter a loop 10 on the strap.

The two extensions 3 may be connected by a single transverse bar forming a cgn; tinuation of the angularly turned portions, and it will be observed that if the bow 2 is pulled backwardly and downwardly a simultaneously upward push upon said transverse bar will cause the articulated joints to break downwardly without necessitating the operator going to the sides of the vehicle.

With a top constructed as above described it will be readily seen that to project it from the folded position it is only necessary for the operator to push upwardly on the central portion of the bow 2 so as to swing both bow standards 2 upwardly, carrying with them the folded links or levers and bows. As soon as the straps or webs have been drawn taut further upward movement of the standards causes the links or levers 3to rock about their points of pivotal connection with the bow standards 2 and the top extension to be projected in a substantially horizontal direction.

In the form shown in Fig. 3 I have elimi- I nated the forwardly inclined bow, and extended the member 7 to form, or shaped it to carry, as indicated at 7", the rearwardly inclined cover supporting bow X, the element 6 in this instance comprising solely a link connecting member 7 with the member 4.

In a similar manner I have extended the member 9 as shown at 9", or shaped it to carry the bow X, the member 5* terminating at its forward end in its point of pivotal connection with arm 9".

In some instances, it may be found desirable to reduce the height of the rear curtain as in case of high tops and this may be readily accomplished by forming the part connecting the extensions 3 as a cover supporting bow shown at 3 in Fig. 4, the top covering being continued beyond the bow 2? as indicated at 1 and having its terminal edge secured to the bow 3 to which the upper edge of the back curtain 11 is secured.

Where constructional reasons render it desirable the lower and upper members 3 and 4 may be connected so that the strain of the straps 10 will be transmitted to both elements 3 and 4 by providing the one of the members with a short arm or bell crank extension 4" connected by-a link 12 with the extension of the other member as shown in Fig. 5. This enables the long portions of said members which extend forward from their pivots to be made lighter than otherwise without danger of springing under the weight of the forward extension.

I have shown as a convenient embodiment of my invention a four-bow top. It will be perfectly obvious, however, that it is adapted for a roadster or chummy roadster, which needs only a three-bow top by omitting the outrigger bow 8, the link 9 and the forward portion of the .link or lever 7 in -tween the bow arm 5 and the bow arm 6.

A desirable form of three bow top may be secured by utilizing the structure shown in my U. S. Letters Patent 1,287,629, dated December 17, 1918 as shown in Fig. 6 by providing one set of links 19 supporting the arms of the outrigger or extension bow with portions or extensions 19 extending in rear of the points of pivotal connection between said links and the main bow, these extensions being connected by straps or webbing 10 with the body.

It will be seen that my improved top embodies but a single supporting standard or bow arm, which is well to the rear and out of the line of vision of the occupants of the rear seat. Its position adapts it to have the back covering material brought around to and connected with the sides of the said supporting standard or bow arm, so as to conceal the latter from exterior view and yet not interfere with the vision of the occupants of the rear seat, and as all of the extension members heretofore described are well above the lower edge of the top covering material my improved top presents a construction in which all of the frame members are concealed from exterior View.

What I claim is:

1. In a vehicle top a main bow arm adapted for pivotal connection with a vehicle body and to normally extendupward in relation thereto, a pair of links pivotally connected at their rear ends to said main bow arm, one of said links'having a lever extension, means for flexibly connecting said lever extension with the vehicle body, a member having its rear end pivotally supported from the forward end of said links, a second member having its intermediate portion pivoted to the intermediate portion of said first named member, an outrigger bow arm pivotally connected to the forward end of said second member, means connecting a portion of said second member in.

rear of its pivot to one of said links, and means connecting 'a portion of said first named member in front of its pivot with the outrigger bow arm.

2. In a vehicle top a main bow arm adapted for pivotal connection with a vehicle body, a pair of links pivotally connected at spaced points with said main bow arm, one of said links having a lever extension, means for flexibly connecting said lever extension with said body, a member having its rear end pivotally supported from the forward end of said links and inclining upwardly and forwardly therefrom, a second member crossing said first member and pivoted thereto, an outrigger bow arm I end of said second member, means connecting .the forward portion of said first named member with theoutrigger bow arm in advance of its pivot, and means connecting the rear portion of said second named member with one of said links.

3. In combinationwith a vehicle a main bow arm'pivotally connected to the vehicle body at a substantial-distance from the rear thereof and inclining upwardly and rearwardly with-its upper end substantially vertically above said rear end when the top is unfolded, a pair of links pivotally con-- nected directly to said bow arm and projecting forwardly therefrom, one of said links having a lever extension, a flexible elem nt ,connecting said lever extension with the rear end of the vehicle body, and an'kgutrigger bow arm supported by said 1n 4. The combination with a vehicle body, of a rearwardly and upwardly inclined main bow arm pivotally connected with the vehicle body and having its upper end lying substantially vertically above the rear end of said body, an extension bow arm, a link connecting said extension bow arm with the main bow arm, and having a lever extension, flexible means connecting said lever extension with the rear end of the vehicle body, an intermediate bow arm pivotally connected to said link, and a link connecting said intermediate bow arm with said extension bow arm.

5. The combination with a vehicle body, of a main ,bow arm pivotally connected therewith, an extension bow arm, alink connecting said extension bow arm and main bow arm and having a lever extension, flexible means connecting said lever extension with the vehicle body, an intermediate bow arm pivotally connected to said link, a member fulcrumed on said-extension bow arm and having one end pivotally connected to said intermediate bow arm, an outrigger bow arm pivotally connected to the other end of said member, and a link connecting said outrigger bow arm with said extension bow arm.

6. The combination with a vehicle body, of a main rearwardly inclined bow arm pivotally connected therewith, an extension bow arm, a pair of links pivotally connected at their rear ends to said main bow arm, one above the other and at their forward ends to said extension bow arm, one in advance of the other, one of said links having an extension in rear of its point of pivotal connection to the main bow arm, a flexible element connecting said extension with the vehicle body, an intermediate bow arm pivotally connected with one of said links, a member fulcrumed on said extension bow arm, and having its rear end pivotally connected with said intermediate bow arm, an outrigger bow arm pivotally connected to the other end of said member and a link connecting the outrigger bow arm with said extension bow arm.

7. In a vehicle top, a main bow arm adapted to be pivotally connected to a vehicle body and to normally extend upwardly in relation thereto, an extension bow arm, a pair of links pivotally connected respectively to said main bow arm and said extension bow arm, an intermediate bow arm pivotally supported from one of said links, a member fulcrumed on said extension bow arm and having its rear end pivotally connected with said intermediate bow arm, and an outrigger bow arm pivotally connected to the forward end of said member.

8. In a vehicle top, a main bow arm adapted to be pivotally connected with a vehicle body, to normall extend upwardly and rearwardly in relatlon thereto, an extension bow arm, a pair of links pivotally connected at their rear ends to the main bow arm, one above the other, and at their forward ends to said extension bow arm, one-in advance of the other, an-intermediate bow arm pivotall connected to-one of said links, a member ulcrumed on the extension bow arm and having its rear end pivotally connected withsaid intermediate bow arm, an outrigger bow arm pivotally connected to the other end of said member, and a link connecting the outrigger bow arm with said extension bow arm.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

MAX BUGH. 

